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Peeta tries to ignore the obvious tension between Katniss and himself, but it's becoming harder every day.
He wanted to feel her mouth on him that night. It took all the power in the world to deny her. The look of disappointment on Katniss' face was heartbreaking, but Peeta wasn't about to screw things up even further. They were playing with fire already.
He tells himself daily that any more physical contact with Katniss would destroy him. She's a distraction to what truly matters, but he's unable to push her away. Their sexual chemistry is undeniable. The way her touch ignites a fire deep in his belly is unfamiliar, but Peeta craves it every minute of his day.
His mouth waters at the thought of lapping up her sweet juices. It was one of the most exhilarating moments of his life. Peeta shakes his head, frustrated by how Katniss makes him feel.
The office feels hotter than usual as Peeta tugs on his tie. Tonight is the night he's been waiting for. They are finally going to witness a couple engage in sexual intercourse. It's why he began this study in the first place.
Peeta hopes everything will run smoothly, but it's never been done before. Finnick was willing to be the first volunteer, which annoys Peeta immensely. Finnick's cocky attitude makes him difficult to tolerate, but Peeta's in no position to pass up on volunteers.
Katniss peeks her head into the office, smiling nervously at Peeta. "I just wanted to tell you that everything is ready for tonight in exam room three."
Peeta nods curtly while avoiding direct eye contact with Katniss. "Thanks."
"Well," Katniss says with a huff. "I'll leave you to whatever it is you're doing."
He cringes at the harshness of her voice. It's his fault she's mad, but her tone really bothers him. She must understand his actions.
"Katniss," Peeta calls out hopefully. "Are you busy right now?"
She opens the door wider. "I just have some filing left to do before I take my lunch."
"Would you maybe want to take an early lunch with me?" Peeta asks with a shy smile.
Katniss' eyes widen in surprise. She's been unsure of how to act around Peeta since that night. "I think I can do that."
They grab their lunches and head to a small table outside in the courtyard near Peeta's office. The breezy fall air makes Katniss' nipples harden beneath her blouse. Peeta tries focusing his eyes elsewhere, but those perky breasts keep staring him in the face.
"Why did you invite me to lunch?" Katniss asks, breaking the awkward silence.
Peeta shrugs pathetically, knowing his answer isn't good enough. "I enjoy spending time with you, Katniss."
Her expression softens immediately. Peeta's rare moments of honesty about their relationship makes Katniss forget all the reservations she has. "I like spending time with you, too."
Conversation flows easily between them. Katniss asks lots of medical questions, and Peeta's eager to answer. She wants to know more. "What do you do for fun?"
Peeta cocks an eyebrow as if Katniss is speaking a foreign language. "I don't really have time for fun."
Katniss rolls her eyes, unsatisfied with Peeta's answer. "Bullshit! You must have some hobbies or things that you enjoy."
Peeta thinks back to a time before he was spending his days delivering babies. A soft smiles appears on his lips as the memories of his sketchbook fill his head. "I used to draw."
"Really?" Katniss replies curiously. Peeta nods slowly. He's never told anyone about that before. "Maybe you can draw something for me..."
Peeta smiles shyly. "It's been a while but maybe one day."
"I look forward to it."
Katniss sees that Annie is nervous. The pretty redhead fidgets with her robe while waiting to begin. Her eyes wander over to Finnick who chats happily with Peeta. He seems perfectly calm.
Katniss grabs Annie's hand with a tight squeeze. "How are you feeling?"
"I don't know, Katniss." Annie says nervously. She isn't uncomfortable with having sex in front of anyone, but the person she's paired up with makes her uneasy.
Finnick is constantly rumored to be sleeping with different nurses. He's pursued Annie on multiple occasions, but she's always denied his advances. Tonight, he finally gets what he wants.
"I know Dr. Odair isn't your first choice," Katniss says with an apologetic smile. "You are going to make him crazy."
Annie's cheeks flush a bright red. "He's such a dog."
"I know." Katniss understands Annie's apprehension, but she needs her to willingly participate. "Look at it like a challenge. He obliviously thinks he's God's gift to women." Annie giggles. "Show him that he needs to work for it."
Annie glances over at Finnick again, feeling slightly more confident after her chat with Katniss. "I think I'm ready now."
Finnick stands in his underwear sporting a confident grin. He clearly has no concerns about what is about to happen.
Peeta watches Katniss closely as she talks softly to Annie. He imagines she is nervous, and Katniss is doing her best to calm her down.
"Are we ready to begin, Katniss?" Peeta says, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
She turns to Peeta with a smile. "I think so."
Peeta and Katniss exit the room and sit behind a two-way mirror. Finnick and Annie won't see them looking in, which hopefully will take away the nerves.
Katniss watches Finnick awkwardly approach Annie. "This seems like it's going to be a disaster," she admits with a chuckle. "I don't think Finnick will last very long."
"It's possible, but we'll just have to wait and see." Peeta pulls out his notebook and sets it on his lap. He needs to focus on the study and not the woman sitting so closely to him.
Annie slowly removes her robe as Finnick watches intensely. Her naked body makes his mouth water with desire. Annie leans in first to capture Finnick's lips. She tugs forcefully on his hair as Finnick slips his tongue in her mouth.
Katniss closes her eyes for a second, picturing Peeta and herself on the table, naked and slick with desire.
Finnick's hands find Annie's breasts easily, his thumbs rubbing circles on her tight nipples. A soft gasp escapes Annie's lips, causing Katniss to slam her thighs together.
She's jealous. Insanely jealous of Annie. But not because of Finnick. Katniss craves Peeta's touch. Every night, she dreams of his fingers massaging her swollen folds while he moans her name over and over again.
Finnick trails his fingers along the inside of Annie's thigh slowly before shoving two fingers inside her heat. Katniss immediately notices the uncomfortable expression on Annie's face. She's clearly not aroused enough, but Finnick isn't interested.
Katniss leans in closer to whisper to Peeta. "He's not even bothering to take notice of her body language. Why doesn't he rub her clit?"
Peeta shrugs wordlessly. "Maybe he's got his own way of doing things."
She scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well, he's doing it wrong."
Peeta shifts his eyes from Katniss back to Finnick and Annie. Finnick grabs himself in his hand and strokes until he's panting Annie's name over and over again. The foreplay only lasts minutes before Finnick is sliding into Annie hard and fast.
Katniss wonders how Peeta would warm her up before sex. Hopefully he would use his mouth. She can still feel his mid-afternoon scruff tickling the inside of her thighs before his tongue slips into her folds. Finnick groans loudly, shaking Katniss from her fantasies of Peeta.
Annie tries to feel something while Finnick moves inside of her, but she's no where close to climaxing. Peeta watches in pity as Annie lies on the table, appearing bored and uninterested.
If it was himself and Katniss, everything would be different. He would lick her pussy until her thighs clamped around his head, and she came. Then he would move inside of her with slow, shallow thrusts, making sure Katniss felt every inch of his throbbing cock. Her pleasure would matter more than his. There's nothing he wants more than to hear his name fall from her lips as he pulses inside her heat.
Peeta shifts uncomfortably in his seat as all the blood in his body rushes straight to his cock. He wonders if Katniss feels it, too. The want of something unattainable? He would give anything to feel Katniss' velvety walls clench around him.
Another loud moan from Finnick breaks Peeta's thoughts from Katniss. Finnick's movements become erratic as Peeta pushes visions of Katniss from his mind. "I'm gonna come–oh fuck!"
It didn't last long. Maybe less than two minutes. Peeta wonders if the knowledge of being watched made Finnick nervous. Annie runs a hand through her hair while Finnick kisses her cheek. Katniss grimaces at how dense he truly is. How can he not see that Annie is completely unsatisfied?
"Jesus, that was awful," Katniss says with a laugh. "It would have been better if we just did it ourselves."
The words fly out of her mouth before she even has a moment to process. Things have been rocky between them. Suggesting sex was the last thing she should have done.
Peeta coughs nervously. "We should probably go talk with them..."
Katniss nods. All she wants to do is hide forever and forget that she ever suggested having sex with Peeta Mellark.
Katniss has wanted a chance to talk with Annie since that night, but Peeta has kept her busy watching more participants.
It's becoming harder to deny herself the pleasure of Peeta's company. She needs someone to talk to. Keeping these feelings bottled inside only makes her feel close to exploding. Images of his Peeta's mouth and hands only go so far. She's desperate for more.
Annie meets her in the courtyard at lunch. "Sorry," Annie says breathlessly. "Dr. Odair cornered me in the hallway, and I couldn't escape."
Katniss laughs, picturing Annie running away from Finnick in a huff. "He's completely smitten with you now."
"I know!" Annie says covering her face. "He's a nice guy, but he seriously lacks in the bedroom."
"I've been wanting to talk to you about that," Katniss tells her with a smile. "I was just observing, but I could see you weren't having a good time."
Annie sighs. "He just thinks he knows better." Katniss agrees with a nod. "I think if he actually listened he would be good..."
"He's certainly not lacking in his equipment," Katniss points out, causing Annie's cheeks to flush a deep red.
"If only he knew how to properly operate it!" she replies back with a giggle.
They spend the next few minutes chatting about work before Katniss decides she can vent to Annie. She won't mention Peeta by name, obliviously. This is just a healthy way of expressing herself. She needs to let off steam or the stress will kill her.
"Hey Annie," Katniss says softly. "Can I ask your opinion on something?"
The redhead nods, leaning in closer. "Of course!"
"There's this guy," Katniss says with a sigh. "He's really great. We get along well and everything, but when things between us get physical, he pulls away."
It feels good to say it outloud. She's been holding in the secret for so long that it was beginning to eat her alive.
"Have you tried asking him why?" Annie suggests.
Katniss shrugs, sinking down further in her chair. "I think that will only make it worse."
Annie frowns at her. "Is it worth it?"
"I think so," Katniss admits truthfully. "I've never met anyone like him in my life."
Annie places a comforting hand on top of Katniss' own. She smiles reassuringly. "Maybe you need to tell him how you feel. His answer may surprise you."
Peeta's surprised by how easily it is to begin drawing again. He's rusty, but the images flow on the blank pages effortlessly.
It's the only way he's been able to keep his mind off of Katniss. Since the night they spent watching Finnick and Annie have sex, the desire to be with her is all he can focus on.
Peeta knows that what he feels is more than just a physical attraction. Katniss makes him feel happy. It's been years since he's smiled for no reason during the day. She's beautiful, smart, and unbelievably sexy. Truthfully, she's everything he dreams of in a woman, but their professional relationship complicates things.
Peeta glances at the clock on his office wall. It's late, and he's sure Katniss has left for the day. Going home only makes him feel lonely; staying in the office is less depressing.
His door creaks open, and Katniss looks in with a concerned look. "I'm sorry to bother you," she apologizes. "It's late, and I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Oh, I'm fine," he says with a smile. "I'm just not ready to head home yet."
Katniss opens the door wider and steps inside. Peeta sucks in a breath. She's so beautiful, it hurts. The door closes behind her with a soft thud. "What are you working on?"
Peeta rubs the back of his neck nervously. "I was just sketching a little bit."
Katniss' eyes lighten in surprise. "Peeta! That's great! Do you mind if I take a look?"
He shifts uneasily in his chair. Sharing his work is unfamiliar. It's usually something he keeps private. "They aren't very good..."
"Oh stop it," she scolds. "I'm sure they're wonderful."
Peeta pushes the papers over to Katniss, who grabs them eagerly. His heart thumps in his chest as she flips through them.
"Peeta," Katniss whispers with a teary smile. "These are stunning. Who is this woman here?" She points to the drawing of his mother.
A chill runs up his spine as the ache in his chest grows. "That's my mother."
Katniss senses immediately that she's creeping into sensitive territory. "She looks angry here."
"That's the only way I can remember her," Peeta says bitterly.
"Did something happen?" Katniss asks, hoping that Peeta doesn't get upset about her inquiry.
Peeta closes his eyes, the face of his abusive mother appearing in his mind. "My mother beat me every day of my life until she died during childbirth when I was fifteen."
Katniss feels the tears stinging her eyes. "Peeta, I'm so–"
He holds a hand up to stop her. "I don't need to hear that you're sorry." She cringes at his harshness. "My scars eventually healed, and now I'm one of the best goddamn doctors in the country." Peeta slams his fist on the wooden desk, causing Katniss to jump in her seat. "She never believed I was capable of anything. I was a worthless piece of shit in her eyes, but she was still my mother, and I was heartbroken when she died. It's the reason I became an obstetrician."
Katniss rests a comforting hand on top of Peeta's. Surprisingly, he doesn't pull away. "I don't think you know how special you are, Dr. Mellark."
A warmth spreads through his body at Katniss' words. "I'm not special," he says with a sad smile. Katniss knows he's not looking for sympathy. "I worked hard to get where I am today."
"I think you're special," she says above a whisper. "Doesn't that matter at all?"
Peeta stands abruptly from his desk, tugging on his blonde hair in frustration. Then he cups her cheek in his hand. "Katniss, you mean more to me than I can even begin to explain."
She nuzzles her cheek into his hand and stands to face him. His blue eyes take her breath away. Katniss absorbs every detail of his facial features. When her eyes reach his lips, Katniss knows she's a goner. They look so soft and kissable.
Katniss wraps her arms around his neck while Peeta rests his hand on her lower back. She can't fight any more. The desire pulsing through her veins has finally won. She stands on her tip toes to place a soft kiss on Peeta's lips. It's now or never.
